WHAT'S IN BLOOM

It is a good time to head out to the Arboretum to see what plants have started to emerge from their winter sleep.  A lot of new plants have been added (thanks to all of you who have supported us by attending the speaker event in January and our past plant sales).  A good place to begin your self-guided tour is to start at the What's In Bloom Display under the Green Roof Shelter.  Ten plants of interest are selected each week.  Their names and locations in the gardens are listed on the white board.

This week's selections:

Photo by A. Andrews

CPP Area:  1. Berberis julianae (Wintergreen Barberry) 

2.  Kerria japonica (Japanese Kerria)

MIXED BORDER  3. Forsythia x intermedia (Border Forysthia)

PERENNIAL BORDER  4. Narcissus (Trumpet Daffodil)

5.  Muscari armeniacum (Grape Hyacinth)

CPP Area:  6. Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum Tree)

MIXED BORDER:  7. Vinca minor 'Illlumination'

BUTTERFLY GARDEN: 8. Cercis chinensis 'Avondale' (Redbud Tree)

CONTAINERS: 9. Dianthus chinensis (Pinks)

BUTTERFLY GARDEN: 10.  Verbena canadensis (Trailing Verbena)

MASTER GARDENERS AT SENIOR HEALTH FAIR

Master Gardeners will have a booth at the upcoming Senior Health Fair on Wednesday, 4/27 from 8:30-11:30 AM.  They will be ready to answer your gardening questions.  Stop by to find out what is happening at the Arboretum. 

More info:

A number of booths and vendors will be set up to show seniors the different resources available to them in the community.

Door prizes and free monthly memberships to the aquatics center will be given away.

The health fair runs from 8:30-11:30am on Wednesday. It's happening at the City of Greenville's Aquatics and Fitness Center, which is located at 921 Station Road.

You can call the center for more information at (252) 329-4041 or visit www.greenvillenc.go.

GET READY FOR SPRING GARDENING

The Spring Edition is now up online.  Here are some topics that are covered:

• Turn garbage into gold 
• Grafting tomatoes 
•  Squash vine borer 
• Diagnosing lawn problems 
• Free soil testing

Read more:  EXTENSION GARDENER

EARLY MARCH AT THE ARBORETUM

Here are some plants of interest this week:

FROM THE CPP AREA (Trees & Shrubs)

1.  Ilex x attenuata 'East Palatka' Holly

2.  Aucuba japonica (Japanese Aucuba)

3.  Forsythia x intermedia (Border Forsythia)

4.  Kerria japonica (Japanese Kerria)

5.  Loropetulam chinense  (Chinese Fringe Flower)

6.  Osmanthus heterophyllus (Holly Tea Olive)

7.  Juniperus chinensis 'Hetzii Columnaris' (Upright Hetzi Juniper)

8.  Narcissus 'Ice Follies' (Large Cup Daffodil)

FROM THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN

9.  Cercis chinensis 'Avondale' Chinese Redbud

FROM THE MIXED BORDER

10.  Chaenomeles speciosa (Flowering Qunice)

Photos by C. Christian

BOLO (Be On The Lookout)

Spotted this week at the Arboretum was something we did not want to see:  Bagworms!  Read this article to learn how to get rid of them:

BAGWORMS IN ORNAMENTAL LANDSCAPES

Bagworm (by the #4)
on Juniperus chinensis (Chinese Juniper)

Photo by S. Gray

MASTER GARDENERS AT HOME & LIVING EXPO

Come out to the Greenville Convention Center this Saturday, March 2nd from 9 AM-4 PM.  Stop by the Pitt County Master Gardener booth with your gardening questions.  They will be selling garden gloves.  Soil Sampling Kits will also be available.